A Job I Actually Enjoy!

That's the best I can say about working on the "Security and Safety Team" at the Faire; having experienced my first weekend there, I can really say that I am enjoying this job! I only had to deal with one real jerk the whole weekend and even that wasn't too bad. Most of what I did was keep an eye out for people having problems with the heat, help reunite lost children with their parents, give directions / answer questions, and help with the medical alerts. There's a reason I emphasised the safety in that title!

I can't help but notice this is a job very suited to a person with a "dog" personality, such as myself. I'm guarding people and property, I'm checking on people to make sure they're safe, I'm finding lost people, and at the end of the day, I'm herding people out the gate! A dog job indeed!

Almost everyone I delt with were friendly and courteous, even when I was telling them that they couldn't be doing what they were doing. Gee, smiling and being polite when you say "I'm sorry, but the swing is just for the actors" really does help a lot. (Even better is to say "Go ahead and finish taking your picture first, but ...") The one or two people who were crabby ... well, to be honest I can hardly remember what they did or what they said exactly - I know I interacted with them, but they really fade into the background when I remember the mother who we helped find her missing five year old. (We had the kid located literally about 45 seconds after the frantic mother came up to me. The lesson here: Parents teach your children to go to security when they get lost.)

Then there's the other benefits. I mean where else can I have a Sunday like the one I had this weekend? I start off my day by getting hugs and kisses at the front gate from one friend. (To quote one of the Nobles nearby: "Very friendly constabulary we have here!") Once the initial crush was through the gate, I was off to my first post of the day where I got more hugs and kisses from another friend (moryssa). A few minutes later, one of the friendly merchants came over and put a bit of silver shiny "hair spiral jewellery" in my hair for as long as I was posted in front of her shop, anyway. (I wasn't going to complain - it helped keep my hair behind me.) More hugs and kisses soon followed. How on Earth could I complain about a start like this?

Finally, this is a really good team I'm working with. I can't begin to say how much it helps to learn that they all work very well under pressure and that we've pulled together to look after not only the people at the faire, but each other as well. (Thanks for the almost constant water runs!)

So, is it the next weekend yet?